Rotating internal-combustion engine.



PATENTED- APR. 28, 1908.

E; VERVOORT. TERNAL COMBUSTION EN APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 8, 1907.

GIN-E.

ROTATING IN 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. Inventor Claude P TED APR. 28 1908. E. L. VBRVOORT. ATEN ROTATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

51mm to:

Qi'l'omey EWALDLO'UIS VERYOORT, OF APELDOORN, NETHERLANDS.

ROTATING INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented April 28, 1908.

Application filed June a, 1907. Serial No. 373.001.

To" all whom it may concern .7

Be it known that "I, Ewan) LOUIS VER- voon'r, a subject of the Queen of the Netherlands, residing at -Arnhemscheweg C. 30. 474,Apeldoorn, Kingdom of the Netherlands, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inand Relating to Rotating Internal-Combustio'n Engines, of which the following 1s a specification.

This invention refers to a new rotary in ternal combustion engine. the fundamental principle of which is similar to that of the water wheel and consists therein that a certain pressure is exerted on blades which are connected to a rotating body. In the case of water wheels and water turbines, this pressure is constantly exerted by the falling water; with internal combustion engines however, there s no continued pressure but an intermittent pressure which occurs through successive explosions of the gas-mixture. In order to obtain these explosions, the gas mixture is sucked in and compressed. Contrary to the known constructions of internal combustion engines wherein the four working processes take place within one single chamber, in the present invention four movable chambers separated from each other have been arranged, in which the four working processes take place in succession. Broadly speaking four blades are connected to the rotating body in such a manner that within the four chambers formed by these blades the four processes, viz., suction, compression, explosion and exhaust are effected by increasing and decreasing the blade-chambers.

The blades are arranged in pairs connected with each other and movable about the shaft. They may be connected alternately and temporarily to the shaft or cylinder-casing in such a manner that where one pair of blades is firmly connected, the other pair is moving with the rotating body and in this manner by increasing and decreasing the space thesucti'on, compression, explosion and exhaust iseffected. If they shaft itself is movable, the motive power is transmitted by the shaft; A better arrangement however is to firmly support the shaft and to rotate the cylinder-casing about it; the motive power is therefore transmitted by the (i ylinder-c'asing, whereby the latter acts as a y-wheel.

The mechanism for connecting the blades t0 the shaft or to the cylinder-casing alterblade to the rotating bOdYL nately and temporarily or disconnectin them is arranged within the blade itself an is effected by the impact of the turbine-blade on the fixed one. Both blades will then ad vance together by a small portion of the stroke, whereupon the turning blade will be connected to the fixed body and the fixed By means of this alternate connection and disconnection of the blades with the fixed or turning body, the explosion pressure may be exerted on the rotating part of the motor, and the other working processes may take place regularly and in such a manner'that with three revolutions seven explosions will takeplace which is impossible with the rotary internal combustion engines known to me.

In the accompanying drawings one method for carrying out the invention is shown wherein, i

Figure 1 is a vertical section, Fig. 2 a'sec-.

tion in the longitudinal direction of the shaft, Fig. 3 a horizontal sec-tion, Fig. 4 shows the arrangement and mechanism of a blade in a.

larger scale, Fig. 5 a longitudinal section of the former. Fig. 6 a modification of the double-pin catch in section. Fig. 7 is a plan view thereof; while Fig. 8 shows diagrammatically the arrangement of the blades with regard to the following working process.

Reference will first of all be made to the diagrammatic arrangement of blades shown in Fig. 8 in order to explain the principle of the new arrangement of the motor and then the construction of the motor as shown in the other figures will be described.

The blades 1 and 2 (Fig. 8) are connected to each other by means of a ring-turning about the fixed shaft. The same is the case with the blades 4 and 5.- Between these ring-pieces a fixed part of the shaft is left in which two holes 27 have been provided opposite to each other (Fig. 1). On the circumference of the movablecylinder-casing similar holes have also been arranged. The blades have pins 41, (Fig. 5) which effect a connection with the shaft or with the cylinder-casing 6. On either side of the bottom hole, 27-, there are openings for the inlet and outlet channel ofthe gas-mixture, the latter flowing in or out through the fixed hollow shaft.

In the position A shown in Fig. 8, the

blades -1 and 2 are firmly-connected to the i shaft the blades 4 and tothe cylinderher-1..-

, whereby this blade and the shaft are disconthe blades are disconnected from the shaft but "firmly connected to the casing, which position the blades continue to rotate with the casing,

"blade together with the blade 5 becomes no over pre ssure exists on either side of the Y Y o of Fig. 8," the osition-of the blades, from their moving to t eir fixed position, is shown of the blades as shown .in Fig. 1', the diagiammatic representation (Fig, 8) showsthe the cylinder-casing 6 is turned in the direc tion' of the arrow, the blades 4 and 5 will also while in III the gas mixtur'e previously place in the chamber 11, whereby the blade 4 rtogether with the cylinder-casing 6 is turned, and the products. of combustion of the pre- 'betweenthe blades4 and2, compressed between 2 and-5, exploded between '5 and 1 and -forced out'betweenlljand 4'. The exhaust- "openings 8 are "arranged, such a manner thatthc' roducts of .combustion can leave has reached below its fixed position, so that sists chiefly of three main parts. The midcasingfi. Difierent as regards the position ed position of'the blades a's-vertica'l. If

move, while the blades 1 and 2 remain at rest with the shaft 3. The spaces I and III become smaller and II and IV larger accordmgly. p r

. Gas mixture is drawn into the chamber IV,

drawn in, is compressed the explosion takes vious-explosionare expelled from the cham- The blade 4 strikes .against the blade 2,

nected, said blade at the same time-beingconnected to the cylinder casing. Thus all .is shown in Fig. 8, position B In this position until the blade 4 has reached the vertical position, -when the pin 41 snaps into the .ottom hole. 27 of the fixed shaft, and this .firmly connected to the shaft. By this time, the blades have reached the, position C (Fig. 8). and anew working cycle commences. Duringlthis cycle gas mixture is drawn in en 1,-before'the driving blade 1 at the moment of connection with the shaft,

blade 1.v

-It-may be seen thatin the positions A, B,

dle-part is provided with channels and open-' ings, so'as to offer, a cooling surface as large as possible for' the cooling water.

The side. covers 10 are connected'fi'rmly and in an air tight manner to the middle, parts 9 by means of packings and bolts .11, and inclose the actual working chamber.

Channels 12 are arranged in the middle parts 9 and covers 10 for the cooling water enter- 1 ing at 13 and which by means of the centrifugal force set .up is well distributed. The cooling water is led 01f againthrougha hollow ring 14, which at its lowest point has a flow-off pipe 15 and which 'isrmly connected to the base plate 16. The hollow ring 14 is made tight by means of leather rings and consists chiefly of two halves separated from each other andlby means of.

a screw-pressing device a water-tight fitting is obtained. 1

When the motor is moving, the packing rin 14a1ways remains in the same osition an no great friction is caused y theleather lining Such packing arrangement has been provided at thepointsfl3, onf-either' side of the cylinder casing and at which places I the cooling water'isadmitted. In the center of the cylinder-casin 9 an annular piece 17 has been arranged w ich is fitted with three pairs of holes 18 arranged in pairs close together at equal\ distances around the circumference (Fig. 1)." These holes 18 serve to receive the pins 41, which at.

certain intervals project froni the blades 1- and 4,.thereby forcing the blades to follow.

In order to allow the pin 41 to enter the hole 18 gradually and not suddenly, a latchshaped arm 19 is'arranged which is movably connected to the annular piece 17 in such a manner that the pin 41 sliding over the turning annulus 17, first presses "the latch and then upon acontinuatmn of the sliding. movement allows it to snap into the-hole 18. It may be seen from Fig. 1, that the latch does not. project beyond the"cylinder-wall and is pressed by a spiral spring 28.

Ther'z'asing of the omotorfis; in the usualibearin ig. 2) which passes around a fixed and ho low shaft; The hollow shaft 21 consists of two parts which are connected to each other ,in the center by means of the ring 22 and which rest at both ends in apedestal 2'3, thelatter being mounted on a base plate 16 The shaft 21 is prevented from turning in the pedestal 23 by means of bolts 25. "The inlet pipe 26 for the asmixture as well asthe outlet pipe 29 for t e products 7 of combustion, are arranged within the hollow shaft 21.

manner rovided with a lining 20 for the Saidpip'esopen into the annulus 22 on the 1 bottom side close to the hole 27 (Fig.1).

' The pairs of blades are arranged in such a manner that every two blades 1 and 2 or 4 and 5 are respectively-connected to the ring 31 or "34, arranged on the side of the annulus 22 and turning about: the fixed shaft. blades'fit tightly into the cylinder-chamber.

' Of these the blades 1 and 2 are firmly connected to the ring 31, bymeans of the bolt .30, while the other blades, 4 and 5 are con-.

The

nected in the samelmanner to both rings 34 by means of "bolts By means of this .mechanism for the pins 41.

. rectangular section.

arrangement both pairs of blades can turn inde 'endently of each other around the fixed and ollow shaft 21.

Every blade has, as shown in Fig. 2, a i For insuring a better tightening fit and a larger sliding surface,

triangular box-shaped vessels 36 have been provided which are=open on the sides (Fig. 4).

I Within the actual blade, a gas-tight chamber is formed, which carries the moving The boxes 36 are fitted tightly by means of packingsprings 37 which are themselves. influenced by'smaller springs 38, on all sides. In the center of the blade a square rod 39 is movably arranged (Fig. 5). The ends of the rod 39, are made rounded as at 40. These ends 40 are movably arranged within the pin 41 movably' arranged above and below in the blade wall. To the inner end of the pin 41 is screwed a nut 42, by means of. which the amount by which the pin 41 projects outside the blade, can be accurately adjusted or re ulated.

t may be seen that the pins 41 either projectfrom the upper edge of the blades or are caught there by a hole 18 or they 'rest on the 'lower'edge and then in one of the two holes 27.

arranged, which are arranged as follows Within two opposite walls of the blade, the pins 43 are movably su ported, (Fig. 5). These pins 43 are arranged on one end of the rod, 24, the other end of which is movably supported within a branched piece 44 jointed to the rod 39. Asa consequence thereof, these rods can easily follow the movements of the rod 39, while a returning of the rod 39 from the position once taken up is prevented by the s iral spring placed around the rod 24.

The (Fesign of the mechanism for inserting the rods 41 either into the fixed ring 22 or into the cylinder casing may be seen from Figs. 4 and 5.

f, as shown in Fig. 4, the one blade 1 occupies the position V or the same blade is con' ,nected to the fixed shaft 21 and as a turning of the casing causes the blade shown on the left to follow, then at the moment this blade the cylinder casing 6 or with the fixed shaft 21, is broken. Said transmission takes place in the following manner :Within the bladecasing a shaft 46 is movably supported.

The latter has two arms 47 I and 48 arranged at right angles to one another the arm 47 lies in a slot of the pin .45and the arm 48 is by means of a rod 49, connected to the rod 39. (Figs. 4 and 5). Ifnow the projection 33 acts on the pin 45, the latter is moved, the shaft 46 is reversed and the rod 39 raised. The connection between the two ends of the rod 39 and the two pins 41 to which the adjusting nut 42 is screwed, is such that the ends 40 of the rod slide in a central bore of the pin 41 and are provided with a groove 50, whereby the bore is fitted with a pin 5 1 (Fig. 5) The position of the pins 51 and the length of the grooves 50 are chosen in such a manner that if'one pin, 41 is pushed out, the pin 51 will be'in acorner of the groove 50 furthest from the center; if however the pin 51" is drawn in, the pin 51 will rest in the o posite corner of-the groove 50. (Fig. 5). ccord ing to this by reversing the mechanism the 4 lower pin 41 is pulled out of the hole 27, b the pin 41 being directly raised by the sma'l pin 51'. The upper end of the rod however; will first move 1; 1e u per pin 41 u wards or a push it-out after the owerend .of t e groove, i. e. that end of the groove nearest the center, strikes against the upper pin 51 (Fig; 5). The stroke of the pin 41 is so small that the V drawing or snapping ofthe pin 41 takes place almost simultaneously, and it is-further'fixed in such a manner that one pin 41 is almost 7, wholly drawn in before the oppositely ar-' ranged pin 41 strikes against the smooth'su'r-. face of the ring. piece 22. If therefore when reversing the pin 41 the upper pin 41 is oppo site to a hole 18, the pin 41 will snap at once into this hole the movement being assisted by the influence of the sprin on the rods 24. If however the smooth sur ace of the ring 22 isstill opposite to the pin 41, the latter will slide on it and will snapinto the next following hole 27, slightly later, since'the'influence of the spring of the rods 24, will be still active. Therefore with a spring action of the rods 24',

, it is not only intended to prevent a returning of the pins 41, but also to support this action at the moment of snapping; It will thus be. seen that in all positions of themotor in which one of the two holes 27' in the fixed shaft when reversing the rod 39, will be op 0- site to a hole 18 in the ring of the cylin ercasing, the lower pin 41 is drawn out of the hole 27 and the upper pin 41,will snap at once into the o posite hole 18, of the cylinder-casing 61 n all other positionsin which, when pulling out the pins either from ahole of the shaft or of the'cylinder casing, the or 120.

Nevertheless this pin'is then althe figures andfromwhat has been said before,

ade-pair is provided'with a reversin mechanism, and such mechanism is only tted to the blades 1 and 4. Therefore only these blades have the i i the r1ght'(Figs. 1 l

meet with another pro the blade 4, the latter return ng the pin 45 to its ori inal position (shown in Fig. 4) whereby the ower pins 41 are pushed out again. In order that the pins 45, may not come in contact with each other, the in, 45 of the blade 4 is arranged on the left side I (Fig. 2) in case the blade 1 has the pin on the right side (Fig. 3). I

It is hereby assumed that the exhaust pipe is on the ri ht side of the engine. Accordingly the 'b ade 1 (Fig. 4) behind the pin 45 f and on the left-hand side is fitted with a ro- 'ection 32 which reverses the pin 45 of the lads 4. The blade 2 is rovided with -another projection 33- on t e left hand side which returns this in again. I The positions V and V of the blades 5 and a 1 shown in Fig. 4 are those wherein the nojection 33 of the blade 5 touches the pus 16(l' out pin 45. Upon a further turning of the blade 5 the pin 45 is drawn in and this blade is detached from the fixed shaft when the blade 5 has dotted lines.

The ositi-on VII side of lade 1 is that in which on the diareached the position shown in ofblade 4 on the'right metrically opposite side ofthe motor, the pin 1' '45 is returned by the projection 32 of the blade 4, and wherein these two blades are moved a short distance further until the pin springs.

41 of the blad lat'ed movable contact 55 is a blade passes by, itforcesthe movable cone 1 snaps into the hole 27 of the shaft and the blade 1 has reached the position of the blade 2 shown in Fig. 1.

efore explaining the manner in which the motor acts by the aid of Fig.1, the following points are mentioned with reference to the construction of the motor: In order to effeet a better packing between the covers 10, the rings 31 and 34 and the fixed portion 22 of the shaft, grooves have been arranged in the usual manner in which are placed thepacking The electric ignition takes place in such a manner that at that point of the ring 22 where the explosions take place", an insuarranged. When tact inwards as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. Thereby the primary current is closed, it is however immediately broken again whereby on the same side between the spark electrodes of an ignition pin 56 which are-connected with the ring 22 connected by metal and'the insulating wire of the pin by means of the secondary current, a spark is produced which ignites the gas-mixture whereby the resulting explosion rotates the,

one blade of every blade to ether with the casing. In additior.

to the inlet tube 26 and the the hollow shaft has still mary wire57, theignition current beingexc-ited by means of .an induction coil 59- and a battery 60 (Fig. 4).

Instead'ofthe simple bearings shown in F i s. 2 and-3 ball-bearings may be used, in on er to facilitate the rotation. of the casing.

Th which 1 and 2 are connected to the shaft and 4 and 5 firmly to the moving are in the position in which by 5 striking against 1 and 4 against 2, this connection is broken. Asa consequence.thereof, 1' as Well as 2 are connected to the rotating casin Since however the inner pin 41 of the blade 4 has not yet reached the bottom hole 27 on the circumference of the between this blade and the cylinder-casing will be maintained for a moment and all four blades will turn the blade 4 reached the position of 2. .In this position the pin 41 will snap into the opening, and both blades 4 and 5 will now be connected to the shaft. 4 and 5 now these blades. An explosion now takes place between 5 as a fixed blade and 1 as a turning one, whereby the blades position of 4 and 5 shown in Fig. 1 and in the chamber between 1 as a turning blade and 4 as a fixed one, the products of combustion of the previous explosion are expelled. At the same time between 4 as a fixed blade and 2 as a turning one, the gas-mixture is drawnin and between 2 as 'a turning blade and 5 as a fixed one the gas-mixture is compressed.

exhaust .tube 29,

he motor acts 1n-the following manner:-

or 4 and 2 m Fig. 1, of

c'ylinder-casing shaft, the connection an insulated prian insulated secondary wire 58 with the casing, until v Instead of land 2, remain 1n a similar posit on as l and 2 reach the i tached from the shaft, and 2 and l are con' I nected again, to the shaft, the explosion will take place between 2 as a fixed blade and 5 as heretofore described. Thereupon the explosion takes place between -'4 as 2 as the turning one, then between 1 as a fixed blade-and 4 as turning one, whereupon the blade 5 has again reached the fixed and 1 the turning position. Upon an explosion taking place again between these two blades, the process described in the afore oing will repeat itself. In the meantime the position of the cylinder-casing inrelation to the position of the fixed shaft has changed, since'at the are alternately con and again firmly to to the casing respectively, the ades make a slightly greater turn with reference to the cylinder-casing. After one revoution of the blade, the relative advance of the. casing with reference to this blade amounts to exactly four times .the distance fixed blade and '20 the arrow of Fig. 1.

blades to the shaft and to the'casingfwhich necessitates the arrangement of the holes 18, the clrcumference of the casing, as shown m Fig. 1, that isto say 1n such a manner,

1'0 thatfor acircumference divided in twelve equal parts, two pairs of holes 18 are arranged three times at equal intervals from each other, 'such interval amounting. to three times the distance betwee'intwo holes 18. The conse quence of this arrangement, as above mentloned is that seven explosions take place during three revolutions of the casing.

- The motor described can turn in one direction only,'that is to say, in the direction of In order thatthe'motor may also run in the opposite direction, the latch-shaped arms 19 must be arranged. on either side of the holes 18 as shown in Figs.

6 and 7. Thereby it will be of advantage, to

arrange the turning point 5, of both arms, 19, between the hole l8, and the spiral spring 54.

The position of the blade, in which a reversing of the movement can be effected isshown diagrammatically in'the position D of Fig. 8. The inlet opening 7 then becomes the exhaust opening and the exhaust opening 8 the inlet opening of the gas mixture, and the functions of the tubes 26 and 29 are re versed accordingly. The explosion thentakes place between the blade 1 as the fixed and 5 as the turning blade. In order to accomplish this, in the chamber'between these two blades a second ignition contact is arranged which eifects the ignition at the mo- 40 ment that the blade 1 is firmly connected to the shaft.

The chief advantages of the present inven tion are in the 'first lace, its rotary movement whereby the vi rations are very slight,

compared with the twoor four-cycle gas engines. present motor has the advantages of a turine.

The motor compresses, explodes, and exhausts the waste-gases in the four intervals mentioned at the sametime and therefore need not do this work by means of the cismioa of the fly-wheel.

The casing serves as a fly-wheel whereby the total weight of the engine is considerably decreased. r

The ignition-apparatus is very s'nn le, contrary to the multi-cylinder motors w ich necessitate a complicated and expensive mechamsm.

The rotary motor. works forward as well as backward, a change of direction being effected while the engine isrunning. Further a number of ex losions take place during one revolution I w ich hitherto could 3 not be With regard to this feature the achieved with the known internal combustion engines. r

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1 r 7 1. In a rotary internal combustion engine, the combination with a casing and-a shaft rotatable relatively thereto, of a 'set of blades mounted to o erate within the casing and about the sha t as an axis, and devices carried by the blades for automatically connecting them alternately to the shaft and'casing.

2. In a rotaryinternal combustion engine, the combination with a casing and ashaft rotatable relatively thereto, of a set ofoperat- 30. ing blades mounted to revolve Within the' casing and about the shaft, and latches carried by the blades and serving to. alternately connect the latter to theshaft and easing.

3. In a rotary internal combustion engine, 5

the combination. with a casing and a relatively rotatable shaft, of-av set ofoperating blades mounted to revolve within the casing and about the shaft, devices for connecting the blades alternately to the shaft and casing, and means carried by certain'blades for controlling the operation of the said connectmg devices.

4. In a rotary internal combustion engine,

the combination with a casing .anda relatively rotatable shaft, of a set of operating blades mounted to revolve within the casing and about the shaft, devices carried by the blades for'alternately connecting them to the shaft and casin and operating devices mov- 10o able with the b ades and serving to' actuate the connecting devices to alternately engage them with the shaft and casing.

5. In a rotary internal combustion engine, the combination with a casing and a rela- 1'05 tively rotatable shaft, of. a set of operating blades mounted to operate within "the-casing and about the shaft, and lockingldevicescarried by the blades and movable in one direction to connect the corresponding blades to the casing and in an o posite direction to connect them to the sha t.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination, with an annular casing and a relatively rota I table shaft, of operating blades mounted'to revolve within the casinggand about the shaft as an axis, a pair of loc ingpins carried by one of the blades, and means .for effecting simultaneous movement 'of the pins to alter natelyengage them with the casing and the 1 20 I shaft. 1 I I 7'. The combination with anan'nular cas ing and a relativelyrotatable shaft, of operatmg blades mounted to revolve within the V casing and about the shaft, the casingand 12g shaft being provided with locking recesses, a

air of locking pins carried by one of the iilades and operatively connected for simultaneous' movement to engage one of them with a recess of the casing and disengage the tions, and a pair of reverse y arranged revolve within the casing and about the shaft other from a recess in the shaft," and-meansfor yieldingly retaining the said pins in either of two positions.

8. In a rotary engine, the combination with an-annular casingand a relatively rotatable shaft, of operating blades mounted to revolve within the casing and about the shaft,

- a pair of reciprocatory'locking pins carried by one of the blades and adapted to cooperate respectively withthe casing and shaft when they are reciprocatedin oplposite direcsprings pivotally connected -to the ins and operating toyieldingly retain the atter in as an axis, devices for alternately connecting the blades to the casing and shaft respectively, an actuating-pin operatively connected to the said devices, and means carried by one of the blades for automatically operating the actuating pin.

' 10. Ina rotary internal combustion engine, the combination with an annular casing and a set of operatingblade's mounted to re volve therein, of a shaft centered axially of the casing and having inlet and exhaust passages extending inwardly from its 'opposite' ends and discharging at different angles within the casing, and means for controlling the movements of the blades relatively to the casing and the inlet and exhaust passages.

combination with a su porting shaft and an annular, casing revolub y supported thereon, of 'a set of operatin blades'mounted to relet and exhaust passages entering at the op-- posite ends thereof and dischargin atdifler- 11. In an internal combustion engine, the s volve Within the cas1ng,'the shaft'having in ent points within the chamber of t e casing,

and means for controlling the movementsi'of the blades relatively to the openings the .inletand exhaust assa In testimony w ereo I have hereunto set. my hand in presence nesses.

v QEWALD ouis v RvooRr Witnesses T'Ho'MAs HERMA N VERHAVE,

AUGUST 'SIEGFRIED DOOENJ of two subscribing wit-: 

